109 years ago, on January 21, 1899, General Emilio Aguinaldo promulgated a document drafted by the first Philippine Congress. This is the Malolos Constitution, so-called after Malolos, Bulacan, the place where it was drafted. The first officers of the Congress behind the drafting of the Constitution were Pedro A. Paterno, President; Benito Legarda, Vice-President; Gregorio Araneta, First Secretary; and Pablo Ocampo, Second Secretary. The committee that drafted the Constitution had Felipe G. Calderon as its most prominent member. The members of the Cabinet, constituted by Aguinaldo earlier on January 2 were Apolinario Mabini, President of the Cabinet and Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Teodoro Sandico, Secretary of Interior, Baldomero Aguinaldo, Secretary of War, Mariano Trias, Secretary of Finance and Gracio Gonzaga, Secretary of Welfare, including Public Instruction, Public Works, Communications, Agriculture, Industry and Commerce.
The Malolos Constitution is the first important Filipino document ever produced by the first Philippine Congress. Its principles were anchored on the best democratic traditions and practices. It created a Filipino state whose government was “popular, representative and responsible” with three distinct branches — the executive, the legislative and the judicial. The Constitution specifically provided for safeguards against abuses, and enumerated the national and individual rights not only of the Filipinos and of the aliens. This heralded the proclamation of freedom, at last, from the Spanish rule. For the first time in Asia, an independent republic was inaugurated. On January 23, 1899, the First Philippine Republic was also inaugurated with Emilio Aguinaldo as the President. In his congratulatory speech to Congress, he said: “We are no longer insurgents, we are no longer revolutionists, that is to say armed men desirous of destroying and annihilating the enemy. We are from now on, Republicans, that is to say, men of law, able to fraternize with all other nations, with mutual respect and affection. There is nothing lacking, therefore, in order for us to be recognized and admitted as a free and independent nation”.
The Malolos Constitution as a whole attests to a whole new process and a meeting of the minds of the people behind it. It serves as a memorial of the efforts and desire of Filipinos in and during certain periods in history to secure and preserve our democracy and independence as a nation. As we also commemorate the anniversary celebration of EDSA Dos today, let us be reminded of the struggles of our forefathers so that our freedom as Filipinos will be restored.